AS A 



RHODE ISLAND 



YlsQ^^\-0. (^. 



EXPERIMENTAL WORK 

CONDUCTED 
AT THE RHODE ISLAND EXPERIMENT STATION 

WITH THE 

NITRATE OF SODA, 

OR 

CHILE SALT-PETER 

AS A 

FKRTILIZKR 



UPON 



ACID SOILS 



CHARLES O. FLAGG. 



./^ 1^ 






1 89: 



ONZ & CO., PRINTERS, 1 BOWLING GREEN, NEW YORK. 



TF5 






. 



PREFACE. 

THE results of the experimental work somewhat briefly set forth 
in the following pages, are based upon experiments conducted 
by the Agricultural Experiment Station at Kingston, Rhode Island, 
U. S. A., upon its own grounds, and in co-operation with farmers in 
different sections of the state, during the years from 1890 to 1897 in- 
clusive, when the writer was Director of the Station. 

In planning the experiments, and executing the details of the 
work, the highest credit is due to H. J. Wheeler, Ph. D., Chemist of 
the Station; J. D. Towar, B. S, George M. Tucker, B. S., and J. L. 
Tillinghast, assistants to the Director in the Agricultural Division ; 
B. L. Hartwell, B. S., and Chas. L. Saxgeij^t, B. S., Assistant Chemists ; 
and Geo. E. Adams, B. S., Photographer, as well as a number of 
farmers who heartily supplemented tire w^nc of the Station in connec- 
tion with experiments planned for their respective farms. 

These experiments have formed a portion of the regular scientific 
work prosecuted by the Experiment Station, and a detailed account of 
them has been published in the Annual Reports and Bulletins issued 
by the Rhode Island Experiment Station while I was Director, and 
from which I have made frequent extracts. All the cuts used to illus- 
trate this pamphlet have appeared in connection with the above named 
Reports and Bulletins, and we are indebted to the Experiment Station 
for the privilege of their reproduction in this connection. 

As the work has progressed and results haye accumulated, the 
superior value of nitrate of soda as a nitrogenoud^ manure, especially 
when used upon acid soils, has become more and more evident. 
The numerous and somewhat intricate conditions which govern the 
processes of nitrification, and the natural formation of nitrates within 
the soil, as demonstrated in comparatively recent years by biologists, 
serve as scientific pointers to the reasons for its superior action upon 
many soils. 



The intelligent reader will bear in mind v\\^V nitrate of ^W^? will 
not do everything. Potash and phosphoric acid must be supplied, 
unless provided by nature, if one would harvest profitable crops, and 
if a soil is so acid as to render the growth of many farm crops, especially 
during their infancy, impossilde, such a condition must be corrected by 
the use of carbonate of lime, or in some other way, before bountiful 
crops can be harvested. 



Kingston, R. I , Sept. i, 1898. 



(^a^f€).^y^' 



THE USE OF NITRATE OF SODA IN CONNECTION 

WITH SOME EXPERIMENTS IN 

RHODE ISLAND. 



DURING the winter of 1889 and '90, the writer, as Director of the 
Rhode Island Experiment Station at Kingston, solicited the 
co-operation of farmers in different parts of the State in a trial of 
various fertilizing materials, for the following three-fold purpose : 

1. That of learning, if possible, in what elements some of the 
soils of the State are especially lacking. 

2. For testing the relative fertilizing value of nitrogen in the 
various nitrogen compounds, such as nitrate of soda, sulfate of am- 
monia and dried blood. 

3. To learn something, if possible, of the probable profit or loss 
from large and small applications of nitrogen to the Indian corn 
crop.^ 

The general plan of the experiments was one adopted by Prof. 
W. O. Atwater in Connecticut, and the work was laid out and con- 
ducted the first year by the station chemist, Dr. H.J. Wheeler, and 
the remaining three years by the Director's assistant, Mr. J. D. Lowar. 
From twenty-one offers of land by farmers for experimental purposes, 
ten, which fairly represented the different sections and soils of the State, 
were selected. A field at the Experiment Station made the number 
eleven. One acre of land was used in each experiment, and so selected 
as to be, so far as possible, of a uniform quality. Each acre was divided 
into twenty plots, laid out, wherever practicable, with an unfertilized 
space of three feet at least between the plots and along the ends. 

Plots 7 to 15^, inclusive, were devoted to the second problem, viz., 
that of obtaining more information upon the relative fertilizing value 

1 For a detailed account of these experiments see " Third Annual Report of 
the R. I. Experiment Station," 1890, Part II, pages 39-107; "Fourth Annual 
Report" do., 1891, Part II, pages 35-8r ; "Fifth Annual Report" do., 1892, 
Part II, pages 163-198, and "Sixth Annual Report" do., 1893, Part II, pages 

196-207. 



6 NITRATE OF SODA 

of nitrogen in its various combinations, and it is in the results obtained 
from these plots that we are especially interested at this time. These 
plots received like amounts of potash and phosphoric acid, and three 
groups of three plots each were set apart for the testing of nitrogen in 
three different forms. To the first group, plots 7, 8 and 9, nitrate of 
soda was applied. The second group, plots 10, 11 and 12, received 
nitrogen in sulfate of ammonia ; and to the third group, plots 13, 14 and 
15, nitrogen was applied in the form of dried Mood. 

The first plot in each series, 7, 10 and 13, was given only a 
" I ration " of nitrogen ; the second plot in each group a " | ration," 
or twice as much as the first, and the last plot a "full ration," or three 
times as much as the first. 

Great care was used in applying the fertilizer evenly broadcast, to 
each plot, and in harrowmg it in, that it should not be dragged over 
the boundary upon the unmanured strips, or upon the adjoining plots. 
White flint Indian corn was planted in hills three feet apart in the row, 
and the rows from 3 to 34- feet apart, according to the width of the 
plots in the different fields. 

As the experiment was continued on these plots from two to four 
years, we will briefly outline the treatment with fertilizers in the 
several years, before considering the individual experiments. 

Mixed Minerals. 

In 1890 the "mixed minerals" used upon all the plots from 7 to 
15 inclusive, consisted of dissolved bone black at the rate of 350 pounds, 
and muriate of potash at the rale of 150 pounds per acre, at a total 
cost of $8.15. These materials supplied respectively 74.2 pounds of 
total phosphoric acid and 76.2 pounds of actual potash per acre. 

In addition to the "mixed minerals," as above, nitrogen was 
applied to the plots in the three groups, as follows : 

Nitrate of Soda Group. 

Lbs. per Acre. Lbs. Nitrogen. Cost per Acre, 

including M. M. i 

Plot 7, \ ration, - 150, - 25.0, - $11 75 

^. 3 - zoo, - 50.0, - 15.35 

9, Full " - 450, - 75.0, - 18.95 

' Mi.sed minerals cost $8.15 in each case. 



'lot 13, 


h, ration, 


" 14, 


2 << 
3 


" 15, 


Full " 



nitrate of soda • 7 

Sulfate of Ammonia Groups. 

- , .,. Cost per Acre, 

Lbs. per Acre. Lbp. Nitrosen. including M. M. 1 

Plot 10, I ration, - 112, - 23.5, - $12.07 

" II, i " - 224, - 47.0, - 15.99 

" 12, Full " - 336, - 70.5, - 19.91 

Dried Blood Group. 

220, - 25 o, - $12.00 

440, - 50-0, - 15-85 

660, - 75-0, - 19-7° 

In 1891 the "mixed minerals" applied cost at the rate of $7.44 
per acre. The muriate of potash was a little stronger in actual potash, 
and the quantity used was reduced from 150 to 130 pounds per acre, 
furnishing 73.1 pounds actual potash. The same weight of dissolved 
bone-black, 350 pounds, was used, but afterward was found to be low 
in phosphoric acid, so that only 52.2 pounds of total phosphoric acid 
were applied per acre. The same weights of nitrate of soda and dried 
blood were used as in 1890, but the sulfate of ammonia was increased 
to make the nitrogen this year fully equal to the amount in the other 
forms. The amounts applied to the full ration plots were as follows, 
and the "one-third" and "two-thirds " rations were proportional : 

^ , . Lbs. Nitrogen Cost includ- 

Lbs. per Acre. p^^ AcreT ing M. M. 2 

Plot (), Full ration Nitrate of Soda, 450, 68.4, $18.24 

" 12, " " Sulfate of Ammonia, 348, 69.9, 20.38 

" 15, " " Dried Blood, 660, 67.8, 18.99 

In 1892, as potash and phosphoric acid, one or both, seemed to be 
deficient in the soil in most cases, and in order that there might be no 
uncertainty as to a sufficient supply of the mineral elements, so as 
profitably to use all the nitrogen supplied, the quantity of each was 
considerably increased. The dissolved bone-black was increased from 
350 to 600 pounds, containing 93.18 pounds of total phosphoric acid 
per acre, and the muriate of potash from 150 pounds in 1890, and 130 
in 1891 to 200 pounds, which supplied just 100 pounds of actual potash 

1 Mixed minerals ccst $8.15 in each case. 
- Mixed minerals cost $7.44. 



IS. Nitrogen 
per Acre. 


Cost includ- 
ing M. M. 1 


75-17, 


$23.48 


74.92, 


24.80 


76.04, 


24.28 



8 ,AS A FERTILIZER. 

per acre. The two together as " mixed minerals " cost $12.20 per acre. 
A little increase was also made in the nitrogen applied as follows : 

Lbs. per Acre. 

Plot 9, Full ration Nitrate of Soda, 480, 

" 12, " " Sulfate of At/iiiio/iia, 360, 

" 15, " " Dried Blood, 690, 

In 1893 the weight of "mixed minerals" applied remained the 
same as in 1892, but a little difference in the chemical composition 
made the amount of actual potash applied per acre, 101.3 pounds, 
while the total phosphoric acid remained the same, viz., 93.18 pounds. 
The cost per acre was $12.60. 

The dried blood contained less nitrogen than that obtained in pre- 
vious years, and the quantity therefore had to be increased. The full 
ration applications were as follows : 

^ , . Lbs. Nitrogen Cost includ- 

Lbs. per Acre. ^gj. A^re. ing M. M. 2 

Plot <^, Full ration Nitrate of Soda, 480, 74.4°, $24.60 

" 12, " " Sulfate of Ammonia, 360, 72.00, 26.10 

" 15, " " Dried Blood, 780, 67.08, 30.15 

A glance at the cost per acre of the fertilizers used will show that 
each year of the experiments, nitrate of soda furnished the cheapest 
source of nitrogen. The following table shows the cost per acre of 
the fertilizer applied to each of the plots, the total cost per acre of the 
four applications for each plot, and, finally, the total cost for each group 
(representing three acres for four years). In each group $121.17 of 
the cost is for the " mixed minerals," potash and phosphoric acid, and 
the balance of the amount represents the cost of the nitrogenous fer- 
tilizer, which for nitrate of soda was $15.67 less than for dried blood, 
and $11.70 less than for sulfate of ammonia. 

1 Mixed minerals cost $12.20 per acre. 

2 Mixed minerals cost $12.60 per acre. 



6a, 6/;, 6r i 



AS A FERTILILER. 

COST OF FERTILIZERS. 



No. 
OF Plot. 


1890 


1891 


1892 


1893 


TOTALS. 






Nitrate of Soda Group. 




7 
8 
9 


$11.75 
15.35 
18.95 


$11.04 $15.96 1 $16.60 
14.64 19.72 20.60 
18.24 i 23.48 ! 24.60 

Sulfate of Ammonia Group. 


$55.35) 
70.31 -$210.93 

85.27^ 


10 
11 
12 


$12.07 
15.99 
19.91 


$11.73 
16.02 
20.31 


$16.40 
20.60 
24.80 


$17.10 
21.60 
26.10 


$57.30) 
74.21 U252.63 
91.12) 






Dried Blood Group. 




13 
14 
15 


$12.00 
15.85 
19.70 


$11.29 
15.14 
18.99 


$16.23 
20.25 

24.28 


$18.45 
24.30 
30.15 


$57.97) 
75.54 U226. 63 
93.12^ 



i.l5 



Mixed Mineral Plots. 
$7.44 I $12.20 I $12.60 



$40.39 



Cost of " Mixed Minerals" for each group = $40.39 x 3 = $121.17. 



THE FIELD TRIALS. 

I. KINGSTON, R. I. 
Experiment Station Farm. 

The acre selected was a portion of the alluvial plain land at the 
westerly end of the farm. It had been in grass for many years and 
produced hardly hay enough to pay for cutting. The surface soil was 
only 4 or 5 inches deep, sandy loam in character, underlaid by from 
2 to 4 feet of yellow loam, and there was a subsoil below that of open 
sand and gravel. 

We give below the yields per acre of hard corn, soft corn and 
stover for the four years included in the experiment. 



NITRATE OF SODA 



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AS A FERTILIZER. 



Notes and Conclusions. 



1890. When the corn was about 15 inches higli, the better color 
of the niiratc of soda plots began to be noticeable, and the same con- 
tinued until the end of the season. The sulfate of ammonia plots, 
instead of improving with the advance of the season, began to take on 
a sickly yellow appearance, which gradually grew worse, until just 
before the close of the season, when a slight improvement was here 
and there noticeable. The greater the application of sulfate, the worse 
the plots appeared, and the results showed a decidedly injurious effect, 
the crop decreasing with the increase in the amount applied. The 
most important result of this experiment was the poisonous effect of 




Field Corn (Maize). 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 28. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 



the increasing rations of sulfate of ammonia, and the relatively small 
yields from diied blood. The results were doubtless due to delayed 
and only partial nitrification, caused, probably, by the acidity of the 
soil and by the absence of carbonate of lime. 

The nitrate of soda proved much the superior source of nitrogen on this 
soil, as the average of the three plots in that group showed an excess 
in yield over the average of the other groups. 

1891. The ill effect of sulfate and ammonia continued. "Phos- 
phoric acid was most lacking, and next to it came potash, while 



12 NITRATE OF SODA 

nitrogen gave financial profits only when used in combination with 
both of the other elements." 

In connection with "mixed mineriils " nitrogen in the form of 
nitrate of soda gave far better results than in either of the other forms ; 
and increased applications resulted in increased yields and profits. 

1892. The peculiarly injurious effects of sulfate of ammonia 
were again apparent. The soil had been found decidedly acid when 
subjected to a litmus paper test. Experiments by Dr. H. J. Wheeler 
have shown that an application of air slaked lime to the soil prevent 
the marked ill effect of applications of sulfate of ammonia. 

Nitrate of soda., as a source of nitrogen, is still much superior to the 
other forms employed. 

1893. The season was rather unfavorable and the yields of corn 
very low. 

Nitrate of soda again shows its superiority by larger yields than were 
secured from either the sulfate of ammonia or the dried blood. 

The total yields for four years in the case of each plot, and the 
total product from each group are shown in the following table : 

SUMMARY KINGSTON EXPERIMENT, 1890-1893, Inclusive. 











Total Yields per Acre 








Plot 

Num- 
bers. 


IN 4 Years 






Hard 
Corn. 


Soft 
Corn. 


Stover. 






f 




Bushel. 


Bushel. 


Pounds. 




7 


119.74 


16.75 


9205 


Nitrate of Soda Group, 


- 


1 


8 


143.29 


12.79 


10376 




Totals, 


1 


9 
10 


157 56 


12.47 


12337 




420,59 


42.01 


31918 




120.68 


14.74 


9213 


Sulfate of A)n)iionia Group., 


- 


) 


11 


51.58 


11.11 


4513 




Totals, 


1 

L 


12 
13 


34.17 


12.30 


3942 




206.43 


38.15 


17668 




112.21 


16.06 


8606 


Dried Blood Group, 


_ 


14 


124.49 


14.92 


11810 




Totals, 


*- 


15 


102.67 


20.24 


8035 




339.37 


51.22 


28451 




1 





AS A FERTILIZER. 13 

A comparison of the figures in yields per acre shows that the 
nitrate of soda group exceeded the sulfate of ammonia group, as the 
result of four years' crops, by 214.16 bushels of hard corn and 14250 
pounds of stover, at $11.70 less cost for fertilizer. The nitrate of soda 
group exceeded the dried blood group, as the result of the four years* 
crops, by 81.22 bushels of hard corn and 3467 pounds of stover, at 
$15.67, less cost for fertilizer. 

2. ABBOTT RUN, L. I. 

Farm of E. F. Crowninshield. 

This experiment was in the northern part of the state, near the 
Massachusetts line. The soil was a very light sandy loam, and the 
field for many years had been used as a pasture. Two or three years 
previous to 1890 the thin sod had been broken up and winter rye sown. 
The next season buckwheat was grown and the crop turned under 
Fertilizer was used and Indian corn planted, which proved a failure, 
and "strap leaf" turnips were sown as a catch crop. In 1889 fertilizer 
was again applied, and a fair crop of " Hvmgarian" (millet) was grown. 
No barnyard manure was ever used on the field. The land was plowed 
the depth of the surface soil, about 4 or 5 inches. The plots were 
laid out and fertilizers applied as in the previous experiment. The 
yields for four vears were at the rates per acre shown in Table A. 

Notes and Conclusions. 

1890. In the three groups of plots where nitrogen was added 
to "mixed minerals," the " most marked gains were made upon plots 
7, 8 and 9, where it was applied in the form of nitrate of soda. But little 
difference is apparent in the yields upon the sulfate of ammonia and 
dried blood groups. It is possible that the process of nitrification was 
not active enough for the plant to get the benefit from the nitrogen 
which had been added in these forms, and that the yield would have 
been greater had nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda been employed 
throughout." 

Although the soil was evidently more in need of nitrogen than 
either phosphoric acid or potash, its application in addition to those 
two ("mixed minerals") was not profitable except in the form of 
nitrate of soda. 

1891. " In the special nitrogen test (plots 7 to 15) we have con- 
clusive proof of the superior value of nitrate of soda on this land." 



14 



NITRATE OF SODA 





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A. 







AS A FERTILIZER. 



15 



" Of the three forms of nitrogen, nitrate of soda gave the best results. 
Dried blood gave better results than sulfate of ammonia." 

1892. "On ail the plots where both nitrogen and phosphoric 
acid were applied in quantities exceeding the former applications, the 
yields have been materially greater and more profitable." 

Nitrate of soda has again shotvn its superior power. Although sul- 
fate of am.monia and dried blood produced about equal yields of hard 
corn, the dried blood gave a better yield of stover and, upon the whole, 
yielded a more profitable crop. 

The average yield of the " mixed minerals " plots (without nitro- 
gen) above the yield of the nothing plots was not sufficient to pay for 
the extra cost of fertilizers. 

1893, The unfavorable season made the yields of hard corn a 
little lower than in 1892, and that of stover much less. Nitrate of soda 
gave decidedly superior yields over the other forms of nitrogen. The 
following table gives the total of the four crops for each plot and each 
group: 

SUiMMARY ABBOTT RUN EXPERIMENT. 



1890-1893, Inclusive. 











Total Yields per Acre 








Plot 

Num- 
bers. 


IN 4 Years. 




Hard 
Corn. 


Soft 
Corn. 


Stover. 






r 




Bus. 


Bus. 


Pounds. 




7 


133.27 


7.13 


8445 


Nitrate of Soda Group, 


- 


J 


8 


148.27 


6.77 


9645 




Totals, 


f 


9 
10 


159.92 
441.46 


7.20 


9750 




21.10 


27840 




65.28 


16.48 


6975 


Sulfate of Amuionia Group, 


- 


J 


11 


83.57 


16.49 


6545 




Totals, 


1 


12 
13 


93.50 


15.55 


7865 




242.35 


48.52 


21385 




67.71 


9.26 


8260 


Dried Blood Group, 


- 


14 


85.56 


9.77 


8750 




Totals, 


[ 


15 


113 41 


9.06 


9225 




266.68 


28.09 


26235 




1 





J 5 NITRATE OF SODA 

In the case of each group an increase in the amount of nitrogen 
applied gave an increase in the total hard corn and stover obtained in 

four years. 

The total, quantity of soft corn obtained was much the largest in 
the sulfate of ammonia group. The dried blood group ranked second, 
and the nitrate of soda group produced the smallest quantity ;-less 
than half as much as was produced by the sulfate of ammonia group. 
This shows a more rapid growth and early maturity on the part of the 
crop grown upon the nitrate of soda. In a northern climate, where 
therels a great liability to early frosts, and where a delay of a week or 
ten days in the time of maturity may cause serious loss, the argument 
for the use of nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, and of quick act- 
ing fertilizer in general, has considerable weight. The query why 
corn fertilized with sulfate of ammonia should be longer in maturing 
than when dried blood is used, seems to find its answer in the effect 
upon the plant, and upon the nitrification of the chemical added to^ an 
already acid soil, producing conditions which make a longer time 
necessary for the completion of the process of nitrification in the case 
of the ammonia, than is required for the whole process in the case of 

the dried blood. 

The \ ration of nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, plot 7, pro- 
duced just about double the quantity of hard corn which was produced 
in the four years by either of the other forms of nitrogen where a 
\ ration was used, plots 10 and 13. 

The total yield for four years from all the plots in the ?titrate of 
soda group stated in yields per acre, exceeded the total yield irom all the 
plots in the sulfate of ammonia group by 199. n bushels of hard corn 
and 6455 pounds of stover, at $11.70 less cost for fertilizers. 

Compared with the dried blood group, the nitrate of soda produced 
at the rate of 174.78 bushels hard corn and 1605 pounds of stover more 
than the dried blood, at $15.67 less expense for fertilizers. 

3. HOPE VALLEY, R. L 
Farm of Herbert E. Lewis. 
The field in which this experiment was located had served for 
several years as a cow pasture, and was in a low state of fertility. The 
soil was sandy loam in character. The same general method of treat- 
ment was followed as in the other experiments. The yields for the 
four years, calculated to rates per acre, are given below : 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



17 





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1 



l8 NITRATE OF SODA 

Notes and Conclusions. 

1890. The best results were secured this season from the su! - 
ate of ammonia group. The fact that two out of eighteen fertilized 
plots produced less than the yield from the two plots which received 
no fertilizer whatever indicates some variation in fertility. Phosphoric 
acid was particularly deficient in this soil, and nitrogen considerably so. 

1891. Nitrate of soda this season gave considerably the best yield, 
dried blood occupying the second place, plots 14 and 15 surpassing 
last year's yield. 

Sulfate of ammonia, which gave the best crop last season, is 
quite out-distanced by both the other forms this season. 

"The application of fertilizers was accompanied by profit only 
when phosphoric acid was applied, and \\\q profit was greatest ^\\^x\. the 
full ration of nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda was used in com- 
bination with phosphoric acid and potash." 

1892. The yields from all the plots show a considerable reduc- 
tion since the beginning of the experiment. N'itrate of soda again gave 
the best crop, with dried blood second, and sulfate of ammonia last. 
In the latter case, a \ ration gave a larger yield than either a |, or full 
ration: a result which indicates a similar soil condition to that found 
in the Kingston experiment. A litmus paper test of the soil reveals a 
decided acid reaction. 

1893. Nitrate of soda gave considerably the best crop: the yield of 
hard corn from each plot was only about 3 bushels less than that of 
last season. Dried blood again held the second place, but the yields 
were from 5 to 9 bushels per plot less than those of last season. 
Sulfate of ammonia gave the same marked injurious effect from the 
larger applications. The results for the four years of the experiment 
are given in the following computation of yields per acre : 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



19 



SUMiMARV HOPE VALLEY EXPERhMENT, 
1890-1893, Inclusive. 





Plot 
Num- 
bers. 


Total Yields per Acre 
IN 4 Years. 




Hard 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Soft 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Stover. 
Pounds. 


f 

1 
Nitrate of Soda Group, 


7 
8 
9 

10 
11 
12 

13 

14 
15 


126,39 
176.50 
162.15 


14.72 _ 

13.69 

13.95 


8964 
11632 
11147 


Totals, 


465-04 


42.36 


31743 


\ 

Sulfate of Ammonia Group, - \ 

I 


115.30 
129.86 
106.49 


15.07 
16.91 
16.19 


9275 
9696 

8751 


Totals, 


351 . 65 


48.17 


27722 


Dried Blood Group, - - ' 

I 


123.85 
137.22 
143.69 


13.05 
15.00 
15.10 


8833 
10820 
10502 


Totals, 


404.76 


43.15 


30155 











NITRATE OF SODA 





AS A FERTILIZER. 



If we compare the figures in the above table of total yields for the 
four years, we find that the nitrate of soda group, as in the preceding 
experiments, ranks first, dried blood second and sulfate of ammonia 
third. Almost half, 159.64 bushels, of the total yield of hard corn in 
the sulfate of ammonia group was, however, produced in the first year 
of the experiment. Both dried blood and sulfate of ammonia gave 
greater relative yields in this experiment than in either of the preced- 
ing, and the total yield produced by each of the three groups was also 
greater, as may readily be seen by the following summary of totals : 
SUMMARY OF TOTAL YIELDS IN FOUR YEARS. 





1 Kingston 

. - Abbott Run . . 


Hard 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Soft 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Stover. 
Pounds. 


Nitrate of Soda Group. . 


420.59 
441.46 


42.01 
21.10 


31918 

27840 




'•- Hope Valley. . 


465-04 


42.36 


31743 


Sulfate, of Ammonia 

Group 


i Kingston 

. - Abbott Run . . 
( Hope Valley.. 


. 206.43 
. 242.35 


38.15 
48.52 


17668 
21385 




. 351.65 


48.17 


27722 




/ Kingston 


. 339.37 


51.22 


28451 


Dried Blood Group. . . . 


. - Abbott Run . . 
' Hope Valley . . 


. 266.68 


28.09 


26235 




. 404.76 


43.15 


30155 



The superiority of nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen for the 
Indian corn crop is quite evident from the above figures. 

These three experiments were the only ones conducted through 
four years, and the single element tests showed that phosphoric acid was 
much needed in every instance, more so than potash ; and nitrogen in 
any form would not produce a maximum effect without the ''mixed 
minerals " This was quite to be expected, considering that two of 
these experiment fields were parts of old cow pastures, and the other 
a field iTiuch worn by long and exhaustive cropping. All three were 
very light sandy-loam soils. 

Beginning in 1890, three other experiments were conducted in 
other sections of the state for a period of three years, and two, for two 
years. In each instance the land was laid out, fertilized, and the ex- 
periment carried on in accordance with the rules which governed the 
preceding experiments. 



22 NITRATE OF SODA 

4. WESTERLY, R. I. 

Farm of Courtland P. Chapman. 

The soil of the field selected for experiment was a rather rich, 
slightly sandy, loam. In 1884 seaweed and stable manure were used to 
grow Indian corn ; in 1885 seaweed and "phosphate" were used to 
grow potatoes. In 1886 it was sown to oats and grass, and until 1890 
had been regularly mowed and but lightly top-dressed. This field 
appeared to be in a higher state of fertilility than any other under 
experiment, and large applications of fertilizers, especially the most 
expensive element, nitrogen, showed less profit than upon poorer soils. 
The following table shows the yields per acre. 

Notes and Conclusions. 

1890. Owing to the natural fertility of the field, the yields from 
all the plots were much larger than was the case in any of the previous 
experiments. There was almost no difference in the total product of 
hard corn irom the nitrate of soda group as compared with the dried 
blood group. A'itrate of soda was, however, a shade superior in yield, 
and gave some 240 pounds more of stover, and, considering its loweJ 
cost, was, therefore, fully entitled to the first place as source of nitro- 
gen. The total yield from the sulfate of ammonia group was 16 
bushels of hard corn less than was produced by the nitrate of soda 
group. 

1891. There was a large falling off in the yields from all the 
plots, but the relation between the different groups was about the 
same as in the previous season. The dried blood group this season 
slightly exceeded the nitrate of soda group in both total yield of hard 
corn and stover. The yields of stover were very uniform for the three 
groups, a difference of only 100 pounds existing between the highest 
and the lowest total yield. 

1892. The yields were larger than in '91, but not so large as in 
'90, and much greater relative difference existed. Nitrate of soda wSiS 
this season 7nost decidedly superior to both other forms of nitrogen. The 
total product from the nitrate of soda group was 50.29 bushels of hard 
corn and 2320 pounds of stover more than was produced by the dried 
blood group. The sulfate of ammonia group gave this season a 
better crop of hard corn than the dried blood group, but the latter 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



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24 



NITRATE OF SODA 



produced over half a ton per acre more stover than the former. The 
total yields for the three years are as follows : 
SUMMARY WESTERLY EXPERIMENT, 1890-1892, Inclusive. 





Plot 

Num- 
bers. 


Total Yields per Acre 
IN 3 Years. 




Hard 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Soft 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Stover. 
Pounds. 


Nitrate of SoJa Gro2ip - j 


7 
8 
9 

10 
11 
12 

13 
14 
15 


176.43 
182.43 
176.13 


12.70 
13.84 
16.41 


10120 
11900 
12230 


Totals, 


534-99 


42-95 


34250 


f 
Sulfate of Ammonia Group, - 1 

1 
I 


155.99 
165.99 

167.14 


10.93 
12.12 

12.70 


9360 

8990 

10890 


Totals, 


489.12 


35.75 


29240 


r 

Dried Blood Group, - \ 

1 
I 


137.42 
169.13 
175.28 


14.70 
16.70 
17.99 


8580 
11120 
12640 


Totals, 


481.83 


49.39 


32340 











The above figures show that the nitrate of soda group produced 
the greatest total yield of hard corn and also of stover in the crops of 
three years. Sulfate of ammonia slightly exceeded dried blood in 
the total yield of hard corn, but the latter had a considerable excess of 
soft corn and stover. This soil was a stronger and much richer one 
than that of any one of the preceding experiments. It contained very 
much more humus, and doubtless a larger supply of available mineral 
plant food. While much larger yields were secured than from the 
experiments upon rather poor and "hungry" sandy soils, the applica- 
tion of nitrogen in any form in large amounts was more profitable in 
dollars and cents upon the latter. In this experiment the greatest 
profit came from the use of the \ ration of nitrogen. 

5. NOOSE NECK, R. 1. 
Farm of J. B. Vaughn. 
The field in which this experiment was located had not been 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



25 



plowed or fertilized since 1884, when fodder corn had been planted in 
drills, with manure. The soil was a poor sandy loam with little or no 
sod, and when the plots were staked out, little besides bluets {Houstonia 
cacnilea) and bird foot violet {j'iola pedcfa) was growing upon it. The 
crops produced upon the three groups of nitrogen plots, calculated to 
yields per acre, were as follows: 



9 o 



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26 nitrate of soda 

Notes and Conclusions. 

1890. The largest yields were upon those plots where nitrogen 
was added to the "mixed minerals." Nitrogen seemed to be the element 
most lacking, although potash and phosphoric acid were also deficient. 
"So far as the eye could detect there was little difference between the 
the nitrate of soda and the sulfate of ammonia groups, other than that 
the latter plots were not so mature as the former." " Nitrogen in the 
form of nitrate of soda and sulfate of ammonia, gave better returns than 
in the form of dried blood, and its application, even in considerable 
quantities, in the two former cases was accompanied by profit, and in 
the latter case by loss." 

"The corn upon the plots supplied with nitrogen in the form of 
sulfate of ammonia, was later in maturing than where nitrogen in the 
form of nitrate of soda \\a.s used." 

" Potash and phosphoric acid applied alone proved unprofitable, 
which was not the case when combined with nitrogen in the most 
available form." 

1891. Sulfate of ammonia, which gave a trifle the largest crop 
last year, was third in order this season, and dried blood was first, but 
exceeded nitrate of soda by only 0.35 of a bushel of hard corn and 350 
pounds of stover. 

" Since the field was especially lacking in phosphoric acid, the good 
showing for the blood may, probably, to some extent be due to the 
amount of phosphoric acid which it contained." (The dried blood 
contained 3.21 percent, of phosphoric acid, while that obtained in 1892 
for these experiments contained only 0.42 of a per cent.) 

1892. This third season the nitrate of soda group produced ivV/^j 
mueh greater than were produced by either of the other groups A 
lack of seasonable rains, from which the crop suffered, may in part 
account for the reduced yields from the sulfate of ammonia and dried 
blood groups; the soil being too dry for nitrification to go on with 
sufficient rapidity to furnish the necessary nitrates for plant growth. 

''Nitrate of soda gave by far the best results, while sulfate of 
ammonia and dried blood did not produce yields commensurate with 
their cost. 

Following is the table of total yields for three years : 



AS A FERTILIZER. 27 

SUMMARY NOOSE NECK EXPERIMENT, 

1890-1892, Inclusive. 





Totals, 
Totals, 
Totals, 


r 

f 

] 
I 


Plot 

Num- 
bers. 


Total Yields per Acre 
IN 3 Years. 




Hard 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Soft 
Corn. 

Bus. 


Stover. 
Pounds. 


Nitrate of Soda Group, 


i 

8 
9 

10 
11 
12 

13 
14 
15 


80.21 
106.78 
124.64 


9.85 
9.57 
9.99 


6860 
7020 
8335 




311-63 


29.31 


22315 


Sulfate of Ammonia Group, 


75.56 
101.41 
107.06 


6.36 

8.71 
8.71 


6845 
6925 
7820 




284.03 


23.78 


21590 


Dried Blood Group, 


71.42 
79.21 
99.00 


5.13 

8.41 
8.06 


5725 
6845 
7035 




249.63 


21.60 


19605 











The total yields for the three years from the nitrate of soda groups 
exceeded the yields in either of the other groups, in hard corn, soft corn, 
and stover. Sulfate of ammonia produced the next best yield, as the 
total produced by the dried blood group was cut down considerably by 
the small yield in 1892. 

6, JAMESTOWN, R. I. 

Farm of T. A. H. Tefft. 

This experiment was located on the north end of the island of 
Conanicut. The soil was a black loam. The field had been in grass 
for forty years, and had received no top dressing in any form for seven 
or eight years, except across one coiner of some of the single ele- 
ment plots. The land was plowed 4^ inches deep. The ends of some 
of the plots were too low and wet for the corn crop, but, in harvesting,. 
a given section of the whole plot, representing a normal yield, was 
weighed, and the weights for the whole plot calculated from this. In 



28 



NITRATE OF SODA 



1891 a portion of a field located upon higher ground, and better 
adapted to the corn crop, was selected for experiment. The soil was 
a light sand, with gravelly subsoil. The last application of manure 
was about twelve years ago, since which time it has grown two crops 
of corn, one each of oats and rye, and several crops of grass. The soil 
was very badly "run down," and only occasional tufts of grass covered 
the surface. The following table gives the yields upon the plots of 
the two fields, calculated to yields per acre : 



Nitrate of Soda Group. 
Plot 7, \ ration 

" «. t " 

" 9, Full " 

Sulfate of Ammonia Group 
Plot 10, \ ration 

" 11, f " 

" 12, Full " .... 

Dried Blood Group. 
Plot 13, \ ration 

" 14, f " 

" 15, Full " 



1890 (1st Field.) 



Hard 


Soft 


Corn. 


Corn. 


Bus. 


Bus. 



Stover. 
Pounds. 



65.71 
70.00 

72.86 

57.14 
60.00 
65.71 

37.14 
38.57 
37.14 



12.86 
10.00 
11.43 

17.14 
15.71 
17.14 

12.86 
11.43 
15.71 



3800 
4300 
4600 

3400 
3700 
4000 

2800 
2900 
2900 



1891 (2d Field.) 



Hard 
Corn. 

Bus. 



41.42 
50.00 
51.42 

34.28 
43.57 
26.43 

22.14 

24.28 
15.71 



Soft 
Corn. 

Bus. 



11.43 

6.78 
7.85 

7.14 
5.71 
7.14 

5.71 

8.57 
7.14 



Stover. 
Pounds. 



3000 
3600 
3400 

2850 
3600 
2900 

2400 
2800 
2100 



Notes and Conclusions. 

1890. The plots comprising the nitrate of Soda group gave con- 
siderably the best yields, and a profitable increase over the yield from 
"mixed minerals" without nitrogen. The plots in the sulfate of 
ammonia group ranked second in yield, but the corn was later in 
maturing, and the yield of soft corn was large. The dried blood, for 
some reason, seemed to be of no advantage, as the yield from the 
mixed mineral plots on either side of this group, without addition of 
nitrogen, gave larger yields. 

1891. The soil of this field was very poor sandy loam, quite un- 
like that used the previous season. The yields were not so large as 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



29 



from the other field, but again nitrate of soda gave by far the best results, 
sulfate of ammonia ranked second, and dried blood gave the smallest 
yields. As this experiment was not consecutive upon the same field, 
we omit a summary of the yields for two years. The superior yields 
from the use of nitrate of soda are very evident in both instances, and 
its lower cost adds to the economy of its use. 

An experiment was conducted for three years upon the farm of 
Copwell and Tillinghast, at Summit, and one for two years upon the 
farm of H. Hartwell Jencks, Lime Rock, but as considerable inequality 
in the natural fertility of the different plots was apparent in the results, 
we will not take space for the details. An experiment was conducted 
for one season in three other localities in the state, but as the results 
are all summarized in the "Conclusions" by Dr. Wheeler in 1890, and 
later by Mr, Lovvar, we quote from their reports in relation to the use 
of materials for the supply of nitrogen. 

1890. " Nitrogen proved most profitable upon soils with little 
sod and humus, /. ('., light sandy, or gravelly, loams. Taking all the ex- 
periments into consideration, nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda 
was more certain to give fair j-etnrns tJian in eit/ier of t/ie ot/ier forms. Its 
lesser cost is, also, an additional argi/ment in its favor." 

"The sulfate of ammonia gave, in one or two instances, better returns 
than nitrate of soda, though in two cases, at least, the period of growth 
was prolonged by its use which may, peihaps, have been due to delayed 
nitrification. In one instance 1, the sulfate nitrogen appears not only 
not to have been available to the plant, but to have had a decidedly 
injurious effect, for it more than neutralized the otherwise good effect 
of the potash and phosphoric acid with which it was applied. The 
greater the^ application of the sulfate, the more disastrous were the 
results." 

"On the whole, nitrogen in the form of dried blood proved inferior 
to both the other forms." 

1891. "While in four cases, in 1890, potash appeared the most 
deficient, it has in no case, upon a second trial been found so much 
lacking as phosphoric acid." 

" Of the three forms of nitrogen, nitrate of soda //as, upon the 7uholey. 
proved tlie most profitable, and sulfate of ammonia the least." 

" In most of the plots where dried blood was applied, the corn 
1 Used upon a soil having a decided acid re-action. 



30 NITRATE OF SODA 

ripened earlier, and showed, when compared with the nitrate of soda 
and sulphate of ammonia plots, a greater relative yield than in 1890. 
This gain may be due to the fact that the dried blood contained, in 
addition to the organic nitrogen, a small amount of phosphoric acid, 
and this amount was unusually great in the blood used in 1891. The 
phosphoric acid may have increased the yield. Another cause for the 
increase might be, since nitrification of dried blood is somewhat slow> 
that, in all probability, some of the nitrogen applied on these plots in 
1890 was unused until 1891." 

1892. " Phosphoric acid has in every case proved itself the most 
■deficient, followed by nitrogen. " 

In the special nitrogen tests, nitrate of soda takes first place in all but 
one instance, wliere it //olds second place. Sulfate of ammonia holds first 
place once, second place twice and third place three times. Dried 
blood holds second and third places three times each. 

"The ill effects of sulfate of ammonia were wholly prevented by 
the application of air-slaked lime. " 

1893. The three experiments continued through four years, 
showed by consideraldy increased crops the superior effect of nitrate of soda 
as a source of nitrogen. If we represent the total product from the 
nitrate of soda groups, in the three experiments, for the whole time, by 
100 in the case of the hard corn, soft corn and stover, then the products 
in the other two groups would be represented as follows : The relative 
cost of the fertilizers for the three groups, calculated on the same basis? 
is also included in the table. 

Hard corn. Soft Corn. Stover. Cost. 

Nitrate of Soda group, loo.o loo.o loo.o 100. o 

Sulfate of Ammonia group, 60.3 127.8 72.9 105.0 

Dried Blood group, 76.1 116. i 92.7 107.4 

These figures show plainly the proportio/ial gains in hard corn and 
stover made by the nitrate of soda group, in these three experiments, con- 
sidered as a unit, and also the increased proportional cost of the 
fertilizers for the dried blood and sulfate of ammonia groups, as com- 
pared with that of the nitrate of soda group. In the case of the soft corn 
the nitrate of soda gave the smallest yield, dried blood yielding about one- 
sixth more, and sulfate of ammonia fully one quarter more. This 
result in the totals of these experiments for a term of years, is in accord 
with observations in the case of individual experiments already noticed, 
when the corn upon the dried blood and sulfate of ammonia plots, 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



31 



particularly the latter, required a considerably longer time to mature 
than was required for that upon the nitrate of soda plots. This point 
in favor of the use of nitrate of soda has an important bearing upon the 
use of fertilizers in northern latitudes. 




CilW I'KA. 

Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 2:^.. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

EXPERIMENTS WITH A VARIETY OF CROPS.^ 

The marked ill effect of increased applications of sulfate of am- 
monia to the corn crop in the " Twentieth-acre Cooperative Experi- 
ment," on the grounds of the Experiment Station at Kingston, R. I., 
and the fact that applications of air-slaked lime corrected the ill effects, 




Cantai.oupe. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 28. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

as already stated, led to the institution of an experiment upon four of 
the permanent plots, located a short distance to the south, upon the 
same level sandy loam plain land. These plots are separated from 
each other by unmanured spaces of three feet, and are so laid out that 



1 Compiled from the Annual Reports of the Rhode Island Agricultural Ex- 
periment Station, from 1893 to 1S97, inclusive. The experiment was in charge 
of Dr. H. J. Wheeler, chemist, assisted by the Agricultural l)ivi^i<-n. 



32 



NITRATE OF SODA 



a border of three feet upon each side, and six feet across each end, is 
fertilized at the same rate and cultivated in the same way as the real 
plot which lies within. This permits the discarding from the experi- 
ment the outside roius, which necessarily obtain more air, light and 
room than interior ones, and, thus, only results from interior rows, 
which approximate field conditions, are used for comparative work. 
The interior plots are iSi^ feet long and 24 feet wide, making an area 
of J^ of an acre. In 1891 a crop of beans, and in 1892 a crop of Indian 
corn had been grown without manures upon these plots, for the pur- 
pose of ascertaining if they were suitable for comparative work. As 
they proved very uniform in quality, were level, parallel and adjacent 
to each other, they were well adapted to the work proposed, viz., 
the use of nitric and ammoniacal forms of nitrogen, with and with- 




SojA Bean. 
PlotNos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

out lime, in the growth of a variety of farm and garden crops. 
We have thus far studied the effect of nitrate of soda upon the corn crop 
alone. We have now to observe its effect upon a great variety of 
crops, including grasses, nursery stock and small fruits. 

The four plots were manured alike with muriate of potash, at the 
rate of 200 pounds per acre, and dissolved bone-black at the rate of 
600 pounds per acre. Plots 23 and 25, toward the west, received an 
additional dressing of 360 pounds per acre of sulfate of ammonia, and 
the two toward the east, 27 and 29, a dressing of nitrate of soda at the 
rate of 465 pounds per acre, or at such a rate that the amount of nitrogen 
applied upon each plot was exactly the same. One of the sulfate of am- 
monia plots. No. 25, and one of the nitrate of soda plots, No. 29, re- 



AS A FKRTILIZER. 



ceived, in addition, a dressing of air-slaked lime at the rate of 5400 
pounds per acre. The lime was applied by itself and thoroughly har- 
rowed in. The other fertilizers were carefully applied broadcast, and 
well worked in bv harrowing. Seeds of a large variety of crops were 
planted in rows three feet apart, running across all four plots. The 
following table shows the weights of the various crops, obtained 
from a given and equal length of row on each of the four plots. 




Mangel Wukzel. 
Plot Nos. 2!l. Limed. 27. Unliraed. 2."). Limed. 28. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia, 

All manured alike with Potash or Phosphoric Acid. 

There are 43 weights given in each column of the above table, 
representing 37 different crops, and from the uiiiimed T^\<jis, 23 and 27, 
the same amount of nitrogen in nitrate of soda upon plot 27 as com- 
pared with a like quantity of nitrogen in sulfate of ammonia upon plot 
2T^^ produced a heavier crop ill every case. In 9 instances in the case of 
the sulfate of ammonia, plot 23, there were no weights to record. The 





Cabbage. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

total failures included all four varieties of beets, Jerusalem corn, early 
and late (Cabbage (trimmed heads), spinach and merchantable potatoes. 
All the conditions of seed and planting, care of crops and harvesting, 
were, so far as possible, identical in the case of these four plots. In 
planting all the small seeds, the seed-sower was run directly across the 



34 



NITRATE OF SODA 

TABLE I. 



1893 



Crimson clover 

White beans (as pulled) 

White podded adzuki beans (soy) . . . 

Cow pea (green) 

Soy bean " 

Blue lupine (as harvested) 

"Granger " pea (pods and vines). . . . 

White capped corn (green) 

Dent corn " 

Pop-corn • ' 

Sweet corn " 

Eclipse table beet (roots and tops) , . . 

French sugar beets " " 

Long red mangels 

Golden tankard beets " " 

Victoria carrots " 

Mastodon carrots 

Rutabagas (Swedish turnips) " 

Amber sugar cane (green) 

Kaffir corn " 

Jerusalem corn " 

Sunflowers (seeds and stalks) 

Kale (green) 

Early cabbage (total crop) 

*' " (trimmed heads) 

Late cabbage (total crop)i 

" " (trimmed heads) 

Spinach (green) 

Early rose potatoes (total crop) 

" " " (large tubers)^. . . 

Tomatoes (total fruit) 

(ripe fruit) 

' ' (unripe fruit) 

(vines, green) 

Lettuce 

Oats, straw and grain (as harvested) 
Barley " " " 

Rye ' •• 

Hungarian (green) 

Golden millet " 

Italian " " 

Panicum crus-galli (green) 

Buckwheat " 



Unltmed. 



Plot 23. Plot 37. 

Sulfate of! Nitrate 
Amm'nia of Soda. 
Lbs. Lbs. 



Limed. 



3.75 

4.12 

13.62 

10.37 

9.38 

12.63 

.44 

3.06 

2.50 

3.69 

2.95 

.25 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.00 

.44 

13 25 

.02 

.05 

.00 

3.25 

16.06 

10.50 

.00 

16.75 

.00 

.00 

6.25 

.00 

3.07 

1.63 

1.44 

7.81 

03 

4.44 

.50 

1.00 

1.81 

1.19 

2.50 

12.13 

43.38 



19.50 

4.81 

22.81 

12.00 

21.81 

14.44 

1.88 

12.63 

925 

18.63 

«4.«3 

9.00 

5.25 

9.80 

7-25 

25.00 

29.00 

75-75 

.56 

2.44 
.50 
40.19 
92.56 
90 50 
52.75 
46.00 
10.00 
.69 
13-56 

2.98 
29.63 
15-69 
13.94 

16.13 
-13 

5-56 

2.88 

2.13 

8.75 
12.63 
19.56 
43-o6 
66.19 



Plot 25. 

Sulfate of 

Amm'nia 

Lbs. 



20.75 

5.94 

22.87 

12.31 

7.88 

4.25 

4.94 

13.69 

15.00 

27.25 

24.50 

42 00 

60.75 

61.00 

48.50 

42 50 

70.50 

65.25 

13.19 

11.63 

2.75 

54.88 

119.56 

97.25 

50 50 

120.00 

40.00 

9.38 

13.50 

6.16 

25.81 

15.31 

10.50 

13.81 

7.63 

5.31 

3.94 

2.25 

10 69 

16.44 

2). 38 

41.25 

73.25 



Plot 29. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 



26.50 

5.25 

18.00 

9.44 

18.00 
5.56 
2.88 
8 75 
9.88 

30.00 

29.75 
69.25 

94.75 

75.50 

68.00 

40.50 

50.00 

"5.50 

7.50- 

9.19 

1.75 

43.80 

139-56 

116.50 

57-00 

109.00 

68.00 

18.38 

13.94 

7.36 

41.62 

10.06 

31.56 

26.50 

10.13 

7.50 

5-31 

2 06 

8.31 

14.13 

16.75 

58.00 

97.19 



1 But few of ihis variety reached maturity, 

2 Tubers 8 oz. or more in weight. 



AS A FKRTILIZER. 



35 



four plots, including the three-foot paths which separated them, thus 
insuring the same rate of seeding and depth of covering. After the 
plants were up, lines were stretched and the paths hoed out. The 
beet seed germinated as well upon plot 23 as upon any one of the 
others, but the young plants soon stopped growing, turned a sickly 



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1 








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4 




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£ 






red hue and died. The beets upon plot 27, where ;?//r«^^ ^/ .f^</« was 
used, made some growth, but not a profitable one, as compared with 
the crop produced by the same amount of fertilizer in connection with 
lime on plot 29. Spinach and lettuce are also very susceptible to soil 



3(> 



NITRATE OF SODA 



acidity and greatly benefitted by the use of lime in connection with nitrate 
of soda upon such soils. 

The reader may say that these are unusual results due to very 
peculiar soil conditions, but considerable investigation, very many 
litmus paper soil tests, and a number of experiments in the grow- 
ing of beets, barley, clover and grass (in which, however, there 
was no comparison of forms of nitrogen) show that very large areas of 
land in this and other states are affected by similar conditions to a 




Sugar Beets 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2.-). Limed. 23. LTnlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

greater or less extent. These plots are surrounded by hundreds of 
acres of land of a similar character, i.e., level, light sandy loam, naturally 
well drained, but thin soil, more or less exhausted by long continued 
cropping, so that the above results can by no means be claimed as 
peculiar to the particular plots used for the experiment. 

Turning to the limed plots, 25 and 29, we find that nitrate of soda 
gave greater yields in 2j out of the 4j weights. The application of lime was 









Takle Bkkis. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed; 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

quite a heavv one, about two and three fourths tons per acre (5400 lbs.,) 
and further investigation has shown that some varieties of plants were 
perhaps injuriously affected by the large application of lime in con- 
junction with the nitrate of soda. This is particularly applicable to the 
carrot, which should be planted two or three years after liming rather 
than immediately after. 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



37 



The experiment was continued upon the same plots, and in 1894, 
potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen were applied, at the same rate 




Cki.kkv. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. So. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

and in the same forms, upon the respective plots as in 1893. An 
additional application of half a ton per acre of air-slaked lime was 
applied to plots 25 and 29, which had been limed the previous season. 




SORCIIUM. 

Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

This was done because the soil of these plots was found to be still 
slightly acid. As before, the different crops were planted, or set in rows, 
generally three feet apart, directly across the plots, but in the case 



NITRATE OF SODA 

TABLE II. 



1894 



Unlimeo. 



Spinach 

Gumbo 

Sugar beet 

Lettuce 

Salsify (whole plant) 

Celery 

Onion (red) 

' ' (yellow) 

Globe Mangel-wurzel 

Long " " (roots and tops) . . . . 

Table beets 

Muskmelon (fruit) , 

Late cabbage (trimmed heads) 

Tobacco . . 

Egg-plant (fruit) 

Cauliflower (heads) 

Cucumber (fruit) 

Sorghum 

Martynia (whole plant) 

Pepper (fruit) 

Peanut 

Barley (air dried) 

Rape 

Red clover (air dried) 

Potato, Beauty of Hebron (tubers) 

Potato, Early Rose (tubers) 

Garden peas 

Kohl Rabi 

Brussels sprouts 

Golden wax bean (beans and pods, ripe). 

Buckwheat (air dried) 

Rutabaga, or Swedish turnip 

Tomato (fruit). 

Sunflower 

Spring wheat (air dried) 

Radish, long scarlet 

Turnip, strop leaf 

Early Cabbage (trimmed heads) 

Danvers carrot 

White " 

Improved long orange carrot 

Kale 

Sweet corn 

Oats (air dried) 



Plot 23. j Plot 27. 

Sulfate of I Nitrate 

Amm'nia of Soda. 

Lbs. Lbs. 



0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.8 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
0.0 
1.8 
2.3 
0.0 
. 7 
0.0 
1 . 
0.1 
3.8 
0.1 
. 
0.2 
5.2 
1.3 
0.1 
0.5 
6.3 
0.0 
0.8 
1.5 
13.9 
0.8 
0.1 
0.6 
2.5 
2.0 
0.6 
0.0 
0.0 
9.4 

0.7 



O.I 
2.1 

3-0 
o 6 
2-5 
4-3 
2.0 

1.6 
5-3 
27-3 
II. 5 
7-1 
7.0 

9.5 
4.0 
1.8 
28.9 
23.6 
17.8 
2.3 
5.5 
1.8 
58.0 
4.1 
16. 
9- 
8. 

5- 
64. 

2. 

3.» 

45-5 

157.8 

59.3 

0.5 

4.6 
38.0 

55.3 
27.1 
16.4 
12.1 

64.8 

48.3 

3-2 



Ll.MED. 



Plot 25. j Plot 29. 

Sulfate of I Nitrate 
Amm nia of Soda. 
Lbs. Lbs. 



20.0 

25.0 

3.1 

24.5 

23.0 

8.0 

8.5 

23.8 

51 . 1 

40.0 

29.9 

34.6 

38.3 

1.8 

1.8 

36.1 

58.4 



22, 
4, 
3. 



5 

5 
3 

3.6 
97. S 

9.5 
23.4 

8.3 
13.7 

9.3 
95.3 

3.3 

5.5 

59.8 

170.9 

69.3 

0.8 

1.8 
35.5 
71.3 
24.0 
13.4 

9.8 
95.0 
62.1 

4.6 



6.1 
23.8 
33.0 

6.0 
27.0 

40.5 
18.0 
13.0 
43.5 
135.0 
61.5 
33.4 
71.0 
43-0 
15. 1 
3-5 
87.3 
70.5 
50.6 

6.3 

3.9 

3.7 

114.4 

7.0 

9.8 
14.2 

9.4 
101.4 

3.8 
5.8 

66.5 
215.2 

84.0 
0.7 

6.3 
44.0 

63.1 
19.4 
19.4 

9.0 
94.4 
53.5 

3.5 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



39 



of beets, spinach, lettuce, and a few other crops, the young plants upon 
plot 23 practically all died before the time when the second or third 
leaves should have appeared. On the preceding page we give a con- 
densed table of the results obtained in 1894: 

TABLE II, Continued. 



isy-i 



Dandelion 

Soy bean 

Spring rye (air dried) 

Cowpea 

German millet (air dried) 

Common white bean (whole plant). 

Radish, French breakfast . 

Golden millet (air dried) 

Watermelon (fruit) 

R. I. capped corn (ears and stover). 

Pumpkin (f laiit) 

Blue Lupine (air dried) 

Sorrel (common weed) 



Unlimku. 



Plot 23. 

Sulfate of 

Amm'nia 

Lbs. 

0.0 

4.8 

l.o 
10.4 

0.(j 

1.0 

0.4 

0.5 
85.5 

0.0 

0.0 

2.9 
84.5 



Plot 27. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 

16.6 

44.0 

3.9 

38.5 
7.0 

6.8 

3.S 

9.6 

249.6 

28.3 

87.2 

6.0 

76.0 



Limed. 



Plot 25. i Plot 29. 

Sblfateofi Nitrate 
Amm nia of Soda. 
Lbs. Lbs.' 



16.8 
62.0 
3.9 
33.0 
5.3 
<i . 5 
1.6 
8.8 

141.: 

27.0 

31.5 

2.9 

7.0 



17.9 

46.5 

4.0 

36.0 

6.3 

6.0 

33 

8.4 
160.4 

17.3 

48.5 

1.4 

27-5 




Dandelion. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

In this trial we have a wide variety of field and garden crops, and 
one weed, sorrel, was included because of the common impression that 



40 



NITRATE OF SODA 



it thrives best upon an acid soil. In the 57 records made in the above 
table, comparing the unlimed plots, 23 and 27, we find that this season, 
as well as last, nitrate of soda has proJiiccd a o;rratrr xicld in CTcrv instance 




Alfalfa. 
Plot Nos. '-29. Limed. '2T. Unlimed. 'I'l. Limed. '2:-}. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

save one, sorrel, where sulfate of ammonia gave the larger crop. In 23 
instances there was no crop whatever from the sulfate of ammonia 
plot, while in not a single instance did //itrate 0/ soda make a complete 
failure. On the contrary, nitrate of soda 7L'it/ioi/t lin/e, in twelve instances, 
not counting sorrel, produced a larger crop than when lime was added. 




German Millet. 
PlotNos. "29. Limed. 27. LTnlimed. i'). Limed. 2:>. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

Comparing the yields from the limed plots, 25 and 29, we find that 

the erops frodi/eed /m' niti-ate of soda have exceeded those produced by 
sulfate of ammonia in 44 cases out of the jy recorded, and in the /j ex- 
ceptions 7L'e notice that in 6 instances nitrate of soda withont lime, plot 2j, 
has given larger yields tJian sulfate of ammonio icith lime, plot 2j. We 



AS A FEKTILIZF.R. 



41 



therefore find that the yields fro//i nitrafr of soda, with or without the 
addition of Inm\ hai'e (Wiiwird those from sulfate of ainiiioiiia plus lii/u\ in 
JO out of jj trials, e/nhraeinx' a j^reat variety of field and y;arden erops. 

In 1895, 12 varieties of grasses were sown across tlie plots, and a 
number of vegetables, cereals and miscellaneous crops were again 
planted. Some modifications of the previous manuring were made, as 




Yellow Onions. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2o. Limed. 2::5. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash aud Phosphoric Acid. 

follows: owing to the known deficiency of phosphoric acid in this soil, 
the application of dissolved bone-black was increased from 600 to 800 
pounds per acre: the amount of muriate of potash was also increased 
from 180 to 350 pounds per acre: the amount of niti-ate of soda remained 
the same as in 1894, and a like quantity of nitrogen, in the form of 
sulfate of ammonia, was applied, each upon its respective plot. No 
further application of air-slaked lime was made, but sulfate of magnesia 




KoHL-R.ABL 

Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 2o. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

at the rate of 200 pounds per acre, was applied to all the plots. "This 
was done for the reason that previously better results had been obtained 
from the limed plot which received nitrate of soda than from the other 
limed plot which received sulfate of ammonia, differences which miglit 
have, in part, been attributed to the liberation of magnesia by the soda." 
The months of June and July proved to be very wet as compared 
with the same months in 1894, when only 1.85 inches of rain fell. During 



42 



NITRATE OF SODA 



those two months in 1895, 9-i9 inches of rain fell. It has been observed 
that in very wet seasons sulfate of ammonia generally produces better 
results than in dry seasons. This may be due, to some extent, to more 
rapid nitrification because of the more abundant moisture, and no 
doubt, also, when used upon acid soils, to the fact that the larger 
amount of rain fallinp- dilutes the soil moisture and weakens the acid 







Miiffr'i 


p^ 




■■p'i3!:*Sia'^<-.- 


-^•1 




In 



Early Cabbage. 
Plot Nos. 39. Limed. '27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. '2-k Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

reaction, so that the soil acidity is less injurious to plants. On the 
other hand, such excessive rain falls, coming just after nitrate of soda has 
been applied, and before the crop has had opportunity to take it up, is 
liable to carry some portion of the nitrogen down below the reach of 
the plant roots. It will be seen by the following table of weights of 
field and garden plots, that the yields from sulfate of ammonia com- 
pare more favorably with those from nitrate of soJa than heretofore. 




Watekmki.ons. 
Plot Nos. 'IS). Limed. '^T. Unlimed. 'I'y Limed. 2o. Unhmed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosplioric Acid. 

There are 24 weights given in the table, and onlv five absolute 
failures from plot 23, sulfate of ammonia without lime. The crops 
which absolutely failed were alfalfa, onions, pumpkins, muskmelons and 
dandelions, but barley, wheat, celery, mangel-wurzel and table beets, 
carrots and cabbages failed to produce more than a fraction of a pound 
each. This plot, however, produced the heaviest yield of watermelons, 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



43 



in marked contrast to the utter failure of the musk melons. The yield 
of oats and rye exceeded that produced upon plot 27, with nitrate of 
soda, by less than a pound each. Therefore, in spite of the better crops 
produced by the sulfate of ammonia on plot 23, the yields from nitrate 
of soda on plot 27 were greater in the ease of 21 out of 24. erops. Corn- 
paring the yields upon the limed plots, we find that nitrate of soda gave 
the larger yield with 10 crops and sulfate of ammonia with 14, but two 
of the 14, field corn and serradella, only exceeded the yield from nitrate 
of soda by the fraction of a pound. 

TABLE ITI. 



1895 



Unlimed. 



Plot 23. 

Sulfate of 

Amm'nia 

Lbs. 



Barley (avg. of 3 rows) 

Wheat " " 

Oats " " 

Rye " •' 

Sweet corn (ears and stover) 

Field corn " " 

Pop-corn " " 5 

Panicum crus-galli (millet) | 11 

Alfalfa (1st and 2nd crop) 1 

Sorrel | 108 

Serradella 1 39 

Blue lupine I 30 

Celery 

Onions (Barletta) 

Pumpkins 

Beets, mangel-wurzel 

Muskmelon 

Carrots 

Table beets 

Cabbage (trimmed heads) 

Kohl-rabi 

• 

Dandelion 

Flat turnip 

Watermelon 



I) 







1 

28 
136 



,18 
,38 
,48 
,78 
40 
,15 
,75 
,45 
00 
,25 
05 
,50 
05 
00 
00 
10 
00 
15 
20 
60 
80 
00 
50 
,00 



Plot 27. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 



4.35 

2.63 

8.15 

2.75 

25.00 

20.90 

44.56 

19.00 

5.60 

124.60 

56.55 
44.00 
0.50 
2,50 
25.00 
24.10 
26.40 
43.00 
54.10 
57.10 
33.50 
13.55 
80.00 
104.75 



Limed. 



Plot 25. 

Stilf ate of 

Amm'nia 

Lbs. 

16.88 

6.90 

10. IS 

3.23 

59.80 

22 . 35 

42.30 

17,20 

16.75 

108.60 

39.65 

29.25 

10.55 

9 . 70 

48 . 60 

90.65 

47.90 

83 . 85 

105 . 70 

70.40 

57.50 

20.62 

124.00 

20.60 



Plot 29. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 

15.58 

5.03 

8.75 

2.05 

37.25 

22.25 

45.98 

15.60 

10.60 

102.50 

39.05 

25.75 

13.80 

19.70 

134.05 

119.25 

64.60 

84.45 

99.45 

97.15 

53 . 55 
23.58 
107.30 

57-IO 



GRASSES. 
The grasses were sown in narrow beds across the four plots, the 
varieties being separated by a cultivated path. As the seed was sown 



44 



NITRATE OF SODA 



in the spring of 1895, a full crop could hardly be expected that season 
but all were cut, and the experiment continued for two more seasons. 
For convenience and brevity we combine the yields for the three 3'ears 



ir-^ 







Plot Nos. '2!). Limed. 



Timothy. 
27. Unlimed. 



2~). Limed. 23. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

in one table. Each variety was cut when in full bloom, or as soon 
thereafter as possible. The weights for timothy in 1895 were un- 
fortunately lost. The weights given are of undried material. 




SwKET Corn (Maize). 
Plot No. 2V». Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

The figures in the following table do not represent pure cultures of 
the several varieties, for, while as good seed as could be had was used, 
there was some intermixture of other grasses, or plants, in every case. 



AS A FERTILIZER. 

TABLE IV. 



45 



Varieties of Grasses. 



Awnless Brome Grass, - \ 

{Bromus I'liermis). 1 

Totals, 

Meadow Fox-tail, - - ^ 

{AlopCiiirus pratensis). j 

Totals, 

Tall Fescue, ... 

i^Festiica elatior). 

Totals, 

Kentucky Blue Grass, - \ 

{Poa pratensis.) 1 

Totals, 

Red Top, . - . - ( 
{Agros/is vulgaris). 1 

Totals, 

Orchard Grass, - - \ 

(Daciylis glovierata). | 

Totals, 

Meadow Oat Grass, - - ) 
{Avena elaiior.) ) 

Totals, 

Soft Grass, ... \ 

{Hoicits lanatiis). ) 

Totals, 

Rhode Island Bent, 

{Agrosiis canina). 

Totals, 
Sweet Vernal, . . - j 

{A nt ho X ant hum od. piielli). \ 
Totals, 

Sheep's Fescue, - . - 
{Festuca ovina). 

Totals, 
Timothy, . . - - j 

{Phteuin pratense). ( 

Totals, 



Year. 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 

1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1895 

1897 



1895 
1896 
1897 



1896 
1897 



Plot 23. 
Sulfate of 
Amm'nia 
Lbs. 



Unlimki). 



11.25 

10.13 

9^30 

"30768" 



Plot 27. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 

17.75 

13.15 

9.00 



21 . 75 
26.70 
14.30 
62.75 

l!0725 
24.45 
16.30 



J9.90 

36.25^ 

27,70 
12.00 



Llmed. 



Plot 25. 

Sulfate of 

Amm'nia 

Lbs. 



75-95 



61.00 



1.00 
14.45 

2.30 
T7\75 



26.00 
32.25 
17.00 



72.25 



25.75 
24.40 
10.80 



60.95 



30.75 
20.50 
13.50 



64.75 



72.25 
19.15 
11.80 



103.20 



23.00 
29.50 
15.00 



36.00 
22.40 
14.30 

72.90 



11.00 
14.10 
4.3j)^ 
29.40 

24^00" 

27.45 

13.50 



63.95 



40.50 
25.30 
12.40 



78.20 

"35725" 
24.30 
12.50 




1.97 



67.50 



5.75 
3.70 



9.45 



3.75 

11.50 

8.30 



23.55 



21.10 
14.10 



35.20 



21.00 
19.30 
13.30 



53.60 



9.00 

7.70 



16.70 



1.35 
7.55 
5.30 



14.10 



35.30 
30.40 



45-70 



Plot 29. 

Nitrate 

of Soda. 

Lbs. 



27.00 

19.05 

9.50 


27.50 

15.9(1 

9.50 


55.55 


52.90 


41.00 
25.30 
11.50 


47.00 
24.60 
15.80 


77.80 


87.40 


42.50 
34.10 

23.80 


44.50 
33.65 
25 . 00 


99.40 


103.15 


16.00 

16.50 

3.30 


13.25 

17.00 

7.00 


35.80 


37-25 


28.00 
29.65 
14.00 


28.00 
35.75 
17.50 


71.65 


71.35 

1 


43.00 
29.30 
15.90 


47.00 
34.55 
15.30 


87.20 


96.85 


34.75 
24.15 
11.50 


38.25 
28.10 
16.80 


70.40 


83-15 


75.25 
26.20 
11 00 


69.75 
24.50 
17.00 


113.45 


111.25 


35.27 
25.35 
10.50 


20.75 

22.70 
18.50 


61.13 


61.95 


9.25 
6.10 


8.00 
9.20 


15.35 


17.20 


2.50 

13.90 

8.50 


1.25 
11.40 
12.50 


24.90 


25. «5 


31.05 
23.80 


30.80 
23.70 


54.85 


54.50 



46 



NITRATE OF SODA 



Upon plot 23, in the case of Kentucky blue grass, orchard grass, timothy, 
and some others, the soil conditions appeared to be unfavorable to 
their growth, and they only persisted in a feeble way, or gave place to 
coarser plants. In harvesting it was impossible to separate each variety 





<1 t/) 



o 



m i: 






5 Z 



from such an admixture, and therefore the figures are the weights for 
the green material growing upon each narrow row, and, in the case of 
the above named grasses, the quality of the crop secured from the 
nitrate of soda, plot 27, and the limed plots, 25 and 29, was much 
superior to that from plot 23. 



AS A FERTILIZER. 47 

By comparing the figures in the case of the unlimed plots, we find 
that tv^/// of the varieties produced a heavier yield from nitrate of soda, 
plot 27, and four from sulfate of ammonia, plot 23. Of the varieties 
of Agrostis — red top and Rliode Island bent — two of the four produced 
their heaviest crop upon plot 23. Their thrifty growth upon this 
plot, as compared with that of Kentucky blue grass, orchard grass and 
timothv, showed plainly that they were able to grow upon soils where 
the conditions were such as to preclude the profitable growth of the 
last-named grasses. 

Turning to the limed plots we find that /wre also nitrate of soda 
gave t/w greatest total yield in S out of the J 2 varieties, and in the other 4 
instances the difference in favor of the sulfate of ammonia was slight. 
In this three vear trial with 12 varieties of grasses, nitrate of soda was 




Sweet Vernal-Grass. 

Plot 23. Unlimed. Plot 25. Limed. Plot 27. Unlimed. Plot 29. Limed. 

Sulfate of Ammonia, Nitrate of Soda. 

All manured alike with potash and phosphoric acid. 

found to be of superior value, not only in power of production, but in promot- 
ing the growth of certain of our most commonly cultivated and most valuable 
grasses, as timothy, orchard grass and Kentucky blue grass. 

NURSERY STOCK. 

A limited variety of fruit and shade trees was set on a portion of 
these plots in the spring of 1896. The stock was selected for the pur- 
pose, the trees of each kind as nearly uniform in size and apparent 
vigor as possible. Any slight differences were equalized, when pos- 
sible, in dividing up the stock for setting across the four plots. A like 
number of trees of each kind was set on each plot, and they were 
pruned in a uniform manner. In 1869 the diameter of each tree was 
taken with calipers at the beginning and end of the season, and the 



^8 



NITRATE OF SODA 



difference in tiie measurements showed the growtli. The figures given 
in the table in each case are the average for all the trees of each kind 
on each plot. The diameters are given in centimeters. The length of 
new growth was carefully measured, and the average for all the trees 
of each kind was found for each plot, and is given in inches in the 
tables. In 1897 it was impracticable to measure the length of new 
shoots, and the increase in diameter only is given. 

A glance at the table will show the superior effect of nitrate of soda 
as compared witli sulfate of ammonia, in its influence upon the growth 
of nursery stock. Many years ago Ruffin, in writing of Virginia soils, 




Sunflower. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27 Unlimed. 25. Limed. 2?>. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

and of their improvement through the use of marls, we think called 
attention to the fact that white birches and yellow pines, when consti- 
tuting the natural growth upon land, indicate a lack of lime in the 
soil, /. e., they naturally thrive upon acid soils. We are therefore not 
surprised to find that the white birch made its best growth in 1896, 
upon the sulfate of ammonia, although the next year the largest aver- 
age gain in diameter was made upon the nitrate of soda, plot 27, as 
compared with the sulfate of ammonia, plot 23. In average growth of 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



49 



new wood, in all but 2 instances in the case of the 9 kinds of trees, the 
greater grcnvth was made upon the nitrate of soda, plot 27, as compared 
with plot 23. Comparing the measurements made upon the limed 
plots, the greater increase in average diameter w^as made upon the 









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nitrate of so.ia, plot 2g, in. 14 out of ij instances., and the greater average 
growth of new ^vjod in 11 out of i^ measurements. The latter included 
every average measurement in the case of the grapes and currants. 
Before closing with the experiment we wish to notice the yield of 
small fruits in 1897. The weights are in grams as follows . 



5° 



NITRATE OF SODA 



Small Fruits, 
1897. 



Unlimed. 



Plot 23. 
Sulfate of 
Amm'nia 

Grams. 



Strawberries: Lady Rusk 

" Haverland 

" Chas. Downing. 

Currants: Fay's Prolific 

White Dutch 

Gooseberry: Smith's Improved 



63.4 
58.3 

15.2 

9.0 

253.7 

88.0 



Plot 27. 
Nitrate 
of Soda. 
Grams. 



242.2 

237.6 
3510 

28.5 
304.5 
1428.0 



Limed. 



Plot 25. 
Sulfate of 
Amm'nia 

Grams. 



264.9 
370.2 
312.3 
31.5 
281 . 
1505.0 



Plot 29. 

Nitrate 
of Soda. 
Grams. 



203.7 
351.1 

519-3 

89.6 

352.6 

1614.0 



This experiment has well demonstrated that upon soils which give 
an acid reaction — and such are far more common than is generally 
supposed — nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, in connecttoti with 
phosphoric acid and potash, gives far more profitable returns than sulfate of 
ammonia. This fact is attested by the largely increased growth of 
nearly all of a hundred or more kinds and varieties of field and 
garden crops, and a large majority of a dozen of the more common 
grasses and representatives of orchard and fruit trees, grapes and 
small fruits. 




Yellow Carrot (Danvers). 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 

Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

It has also shown that the application of air-slaked lime in con- 
nection with nitrate of soda, potash and phosphoric acid will, upon acid 
soils, generally render the fertilizers more effective and increase the 
crops. The plants which are notable exceptions to this rule are the 
lupines, serradella and watermelon, two varieties of Argrostis — red top 
and Rhode Island bent — and the white birch. 



AS A fertiltzp:r. 51 

Liming is not particularly injurious to sorrel, as it will thrive upon 
acid soils, with or without liming, if given an opportunity. The acid 
condition of some soils forbids the growth of many cultivated plants 
and grasses, and sorrel comes in naturally to cover the vacant spaces. 
Liming and the use of nitrate of soda tend to correct the acidity, and 
the soil conditions are changed so that cultivated plants can grow, and 
sorrel is crowded out. 

One great advantage in the use of nitrate of soda commonly over- 
looked is, without doubt, the fact that a basic residue is probably left 
in the soil when the nitrogen is used by the plant, the tendency of 
which is. doubtless, to modify soil acidity. On the other hand, the 
residue from sulfate of annnonia is likelv acid in cliaracter, and the 
tendency, therefore, is to aggravate the condition of a soil already 
acid. 

AN EXPERIMENT WITH POTATOES. ' 

In 1896 and 1897 potatoes were grown upon plot 38 for the pur- 
pose of testing various combinations of fertilizers, the experiment 
being in charge of the Director. One of four questions involved was 
the relative effect of dried blood and nitrate of soda as sources of nitro- 
gen for the potato crop. The plot was divided into sections for the 
experiment, and numbers i, 3 and 4 were used in this particular in- 
quiry. Like quantities of muriate of potash and dissolved phosphate 
rock were applied to each section, and equal amounts of nitrogen, in 
its respective forms, to the several sections. Section i received half 
its nitrogen in the form of dried blood and half in nitrate of soda. The 
following table gives the yields for two years, calculated to bushels 
per acre : 



1 Tenth Annual Report, R. I. Expt. Station. 



5-' 



Ml KATE OF SODA 




AS A FERTILIZER. 

POTATO EXPERIMENT, 1896 and 1897. 



53 



No. 

of 
Sec- 
tion 


Source of Nitko(;en. 


Ra- 
tion 


Year 


Yields ok Tubeus in 
Bushels tek Acre. 


Total. 1 Large. 


Small. 




( Dried Blood 


if 
^\ 
i\ 

1 
1 

1 

1 


1896 
1897 

1896 
1897 

1896 
1897 


289.26 209.75 
246.90 120.96 




1 
1 


) Nitrate of Soda 

( Dried Blood 

] Nitrate of Soda 

Average, 
Dried Blood 


79.51 
125.94 




268.08 165 35 


102.12 


3 
3 


299.78 
260.80 


211.61 
127.46 


88.17 
133.34 




Ai'erage, 
Nitrate of Soda 






280.29 


169.53 110.75 


4 


302.26 

284.31 


198.00 1 104.26 


4 


Average, 


148.80 135.51 




293-29 


173.40 1 119.88 






1 



Comparing the average yields for the two years, we find that sec- 
tion 4, the full ration of nitrate of soda, has given the largest crop : dried 
blood, section 3, ranks second ; and the half ration of each, section 3, 
produced the least. 

The average yield from the fu/i ration of nitrate of soda was 13 
bushels in total crop — 3.87 bushels of large potatoes and 9.13 bushels of 
small ones more than the average produced by the full ration of dried 
blood on section 3. 

The average yield from the full ration of nitrate of soda was 23.21 
bushels in total crop — 8.05 bushels of large potatoes and 17.16 bushels 
of small ones, more than the average produced by the half ration each 
of dried blood and nitrate of soda on section i. 

POT EXPERIMENTS. 

The following is condensed from an article ^ entitled, " Observa- 
tions regarding the relative assimilability of variotis forms of nitrogen 
upon an acid soil, limed and unlimed," and contains the results of an 
experiment which was begtm in 1893 and continued through 1897. 

1 Tenth Annual Report, R. I. Expt. Station. 1897, pages 241 to 253. By 
Dr. H. J. Wheeler, B. L. Hartwell and G. E. Adams. 



54 



NITRATE OF SODA 



This experiment was conducted in galvanized iron pots or cans, 
i8 inches in diameter and 26 inches deep, sunk in the soil of a yard 
made for the purpose. Proper drainage was provided to guard 
against water flowing into the pots from the outside. In each pot was 
placed 154 pounds of subsoil and 100 pounds of surface soil taken 
from plot 00 of the co-operative experiment. The soil was a sandy 
loam with yellow loam subsoil, and it had received no manure what- 
ever for many years. Great care was taken to insure a uniform qual- 




Spring Rye. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 28. LTnlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

ity of soil in all the pots. Like quantities of dissolved bone-black, 
muriate of potash, and nitrogen in the several forms have been annu- 
ally added to each pot. Four pots w^ere assigned to each form of 
nitrogen, two of which were treated, the first year, with air-slaked 
lime at the rate of 4 tons per acre, and the other two were unlimed. 
No further application of lime has been made. The dried blood used 
has been from the same lot, containing 12.45 P^^ cent, of nitrogen. 
'Pennsylvania tankage," containing 8.9 per cent, of nitrogen, was 
used in 1S93 and 1894, and since then, finely ground leather, containing 



AS A FERTILIZER. 



55 



7.06 per cent, of nitrogen, has been substituted. Indian corn was 
raised in 1893, but, owing to the individuality of tlie plants and the 
small number which could be grown in each pot, the results were 
unsatisfactory and the figures are omitted. In 1894 oats were grown. 
When in the " milk " they were cut, and dried at 100° C. The follow- 
ing table gives the weight for each pot in grams : 




Oats. 
Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 2."). Limed. 2:'). Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda. Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 



56 



NITRATE OF SODA 



POT EXPERIMENT.— TABLE I. 



OATS, 1894. 



No. 

OF 

Pot. 



Limed. Unumed. 



Grams 
per pot. 



Grams 
per pot. 



Without Nitrozen 



A'ttrate of Soda 



Sulfate of Am moil /a 



Dried Blood. 



" Pennsyliuxnia Tankage " \ 

i 
I 



20 
27 
23 
24 

6 
13 

7 
14 
18 
25 
19 
26 

4 
11 

5 
12 

2 

9 

3 
10 



55 


8 


60 


2 


78 


6 


69 


9 


72 


9 


83 


1 


67 


9 


68 


1 


73 


1 


76 


5 



17.2 
19.4 



09.4 
69.9 



7.1 
14.0 



58 . 9 
50.3 



45.7 
47.3 



In the case of the uidimed plots, nitrate of soda produced consider- 
ably better results than any other form of nitrogen. 



AS A FERTILIZER. 57 

In 1895 spring rye was sown, harvested in the "milk," and dried 
at 100° C. The weight in grams per pot was as follows : 

POT EXPERIMENT.— TABLE II. 



SPRING RYE, 1895. 



r 
I 

Without Nitrogen -j 



Nitrate of Soda 



Sulfate of Aiiunotiia 



Dried Blood. -! 



Ground Leatlier . 





Limed. 


Unlimed. 


No. 






OF 

Pot. 


Grams 


Grams 




per pot. 


per pot. 


20 




4.2 


27 




3.8 


23 


56.7 




24 


44.6 




6 




22 . 7 


13 




24.5 


7 


118.7 




14 


93.6 




18 




0.6 


25 




1.0 


19 


108.4 




26 


97.5 




4 




1.0 


11 




1.7 


5 


117.6 




12 


100.5 




2 




j 3.9 


9 




I 8.9 





64.9 




10 


76.3 


.... 



" The superiority of nitrate of soda as a form of nitrogen for acid soils 
is again strikingly manifested." 

RESULTS WITH BARLEY IN 1896. 

"For the reason that plants of the same kind, weighing exactly 
alike, may contain unlike amounts of nitrogen, and since the actual 
amount of nitrogen in plants is dependent, wTthin certain limits, upon 
the quantity of that element present in assimilable form within the 
soil, the quantities of nitrogen removed from the soil by the crop have, 
in most cases, been determined. By this means, much more reliable 
information is furnished as to the relative assimilability of the several 
forms of nitrogenous manures." 



58 



NITRATE OF SODA 

POT EXPERIMENT.— TABLE III. 







d 
b 


Limed. 


UNLI^rED. 


BARLEY, 1896. 




of nitro- 
he crop 
Jried). 


nitrogen 
from the 
tie crop. 




of nitro- 
lie crop 
iried). 


nitrogen 
from the 
he crop. 






Ph 


^ ^ 


G rt^ 






S3 f3,r? 










S >^ 


OJ-" r-l 


t« G^ 


S cS 


OJ-'-' •— 


t/1 C J3 








C5 










$3 03:;^ 
5^ o o 










fl^ 


O o 




Ph 
1.75 


O o 




r 


20 








9.61 


0.168 


IV/f/iout Nitroi:;en . . 




27 








8.18 


1.14 


0.093 




23 


58.67 


1.14 


0.791 












24 


69.26 


1.00 


0.693 










' 


6 








51.07 


2.29 


1.170 




13 








51 12 


2.43 


1.242 


A/frafi' of Soda. . . . 


















1 
1 


7 


100.32 


2.17 


2.177 










I 

1 
1 


14 

18 


103.56 


2.07 


2.144 


* 
2 46 




* 
* 


* 


Sulf ate of AiiiDioiin 


^-1 
1 


19 


102.48 


2.00 


2.050 










I 


26 

4 

11 


98.78 


1.66 


1.646 


21.26 
32.85 


2.32 
2.27 


0.493 
0.746 


Dried Blood 


J 


5 
12 


118.21 
120.52 


1.73 
1.66 


2.045 
2.000 












2 
9 








11.20 
11 71 


1.89 
2.06 


0.212 
0.241 


G>-oiind Leather .. . 


1 


3 

10 


73.90 
79.14 


1.23 

1.22 


. 909 
0.966 




1 ■■" 





*Not determined, owing to small amount of substance. 

In the limed series it will be seen that, so far as concerns the 
weight of dry matter in the crop, dried blood proved superior to either 
sulfate of ammonia or nitrate of soda, yet the plants receiving nitrate of 
soda actual I X removed t/ie /arger amount of nitrogen from the soil. In this 
instance the weight of the crop fails to indicate properly the relative 
assimilability of the nitrogen of the dried blood and the nitrate of soda. 

Dried blood in the unlimed series exceeded leather in yield and 
amount of nitrogen removed. '■'Nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen 
on an acid soil Jias again sJiown its marked superiority, the total product of 
barley Jiax, and the amount of nitrogen removed being far greater in the case 
of those pots than in any of the others. 

Deducting the amount of nitrogen found in the crop from the 



AS A FERTILIZER. 

POT EXPERIMENT.— TABLE IV. 



59 



BARLEY, 1S9^ 



P-i 





>> 




<u 












d 


o 


X^ 


Ph 




S-. 


o 




rr. 


U, 


r^ 


>. 



Limed. 



O 






CD— '- 



C 0) 

P a S 

O CD >, 



Without X/troi^c/i . 



Nitratt' of Soda. 



Sulfate of Amino /I /a 



Dried Blood i 



Gi'oiind Leather. 



20 
27 
23 
24 
6 
18 

14 
18 
25 
19 
26 

4 
11 

5 
12 

2 

9 

10 



32 


79 


27 


19 


80 


37 


75 


86 


79.96 


61 


.95 


85 


.37 


87 


.26 



30.45 
40.96 



2.02 
1.91 



1.76 

1.89 



1.60 
1.67 



1.5 J 
1.26 



1.623 
1.449 



1.407 
1.171 



1.366 

1.457 



0.466 
0.516 



Unlimed. 






o 



4.69 

2.40 



42.33 

28.24 



dj bo 



C CD 

S p 2 

° cu >, 

6°" 



2.01 
2.02 



1.! 



12.31 



8.06 
9.74 



0.851 
0.570 



1.95 



1.67 
1.60 



0.240 



0.135 
0.156 



1 Not determined, owing to small amount of substance. 

^ This pot received caustic magnesia in 1896 and 1897, and results are re- 
served for publication elsewhere. 
* Waterlogged. 

pots without nitrogen, from that in the pots when nitrogen was added, 
and then letting 100 represent the average amount of nitrogen taken 
from the soil by the plants in the tiitratc of soda pots, we obtain the 
following values for the nitrogen, which the plants were able to obtain 
from the other forms of nitrogen employed. 

Limed. 
Pots. Average. 

Nitrate of Soda. . , 23. 24 100.0 

Sulfate of Amino Ilia 19. 26 92.2 

Dried Blood 5. 12 90.3 

Ground Steamed Leather 3. 10 13.8 



Unlimed. 
Pots. Average. 
20. 27 100.0 

4. 11 45.5 

2. 9 0.9 



6o 



NITRATE OF SODA 



"These results bring out plainly tlie fact that upon an acid soil, 
where nitrification progresses but slowly, much of the money invested 
in the best forms of organic nitrogen, such as blood, meat and fish, is 
practically wasted ; and since these forms make up the major part of 
the nitrogen of most of the commercial fertilizers sold in the state, the 
importance of testing the soils for acidity, and of supplying lime 
where needed, cannot be too strongly insisted upon." 




Plot Nos. 29. Limed. 27. Unlimed. 25. Limed. 23. Unlimed. 
Nitrate of Soda, Sulfate of Ammonia. 

All manured alike with Potash and Phosphoric Acid. 

The superiority of nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen over orga/zie 
forms covild hardly be more clearly demonstrated. On a well-limed 
soil it is shown to furnish nearly 8 per cent, more available nitrogen than 
sulfate of ammonia, and about lo per cent, more than good dried blood. 
In the case of an acid unlimed soil, it is practically loo per cent, more 
profitable to use than sulfate of ammonia or steamed leather, and fur- 
nishes j^^.j/i?;- cent, more available nitrogen than dried blood. 



AS A FKRTII.IZER. 6l 



SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF 
NITRATE OF SODA AND LIME. 



NITRATE OF SODA is valuable as a fertilizer upon any soil in 
field, garden or greenhouse, in which additional nitrogen is 
required for maximum plant growth, and when, for any reason, a soil 
is acid, it becomes probably the most efficient form of nitrogenous 
material to apply. This is, doubtless, because of the fact that what 
remains in the soil after the nitrogen is used by plant growth seems, 
in a measure, to neutralize the soil acidity and thereby give better 
conditions for the thrifty growth of most agricultural plants. Soils 
upon which clover and timothy fail to make a "catch "when sown, 
and where red-top {Agrostis vulgaris) quickly takes the place of tim- 
othy, and forms the bulk of the hay crop ; soils where the cultivated 
grasses soon die out and give place to wild grasses, rushes and sorrel ; 
soils where wheat and barley fail to thrive, and soils where beets, spin- 
ach and lettuce fail altogether, or make but a feeble growth, a>-e most 
probably acid, and should be promptly tested for acidity. If a soil is 
acid — when tested, changing a blue litmus paper to a reddish color 
sometimes approaching a brick-red — it is economy to use some other 
agent in addition to nitrate of soda for correcting the acid condition. 

The most convenient and, generally, cheaper materials for this 
purpose are air-slaked lime and wood ashes, both leached and un- 
leached. The fact that applications of wood ashes often show a 
marked effect for many years is, doubtless, due to the influence of the 
thirty or more per cent, of carbonate of lime which they contain, 
along with other carbonates, all of which neutralize acidity and help 
to promote nitrification in acid soils deficient in lime. One ton per 
acre of air-slaked lime is capable of producing surprising results when 
used with other fertilizers upon acid soils, and the application of lime 
Jias to be made but once in several rears. In connection with the " Phos- 



62 NITRATE OF SODA 

phate experiment" at the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment 
Station,^ upon a sandy loam soil, so acid and infertile that without 
lime or fertilizers Indian corn will not grow more than from four to 
six iiicJics higJi, one ton of air-slaked lime per acre, applied in 1894, and 
annual applications of nitrate of soda and muriate of potash, with 
suitable quantities of phosphoric acid in different forms, but no further 
application of lime, has produced an increase in the total hay crop of 
1896-97 and the first ci-op of 1898, of 8889 pounds of hay, as compared 
with the total yield from the unlimed plots. This gain of practically 
four and a half tons of hay per acre in three years is the direct result 
of the application of one ton of air-slaked lime in 1894. In addition 
to increase in quantity, the quality of the hay from the limed plots has 
been superior to that from those unlimed. 

SEEDING TO GRASS. 
This is probably the best time in the rotation to apply lime or 
ashes. If the latter are used, about 100 bushels, or two tons per acre, 
should be applied ; spread them evenly, and work them well into the 
soil. If lime is used, one to two tons per acre is generally sufficient. 
Too much lime may be as injurious as too little. If purchased as a 
waste product already slaked, spread evenly upon the field, and work 
into the soil by thorough harrowing. If purchased in the caustic, or 
freshly-burned state, haul to the field and place in heaps of about one 
half barrel each at proper distances over the field. With a watering- 
pot spray about one and a quarter pails of water upon each heap, and 
cover with a few shovel-fulls of moist earth. In one or two days the 
heaps will have slaked to a fine dry powder, which can best be spread 
from a scoop-shovel. Select, if possible, a time when there is no wind 
to interfere with the spreading, but it is desirable to spread it and 
harrow it in before any heavy rain falls. If anv lumps remain 
unslaked, and the field is to be immediately seeded, they should be 
gathered up and removed, as, otherwise, they would be slaked by the 
first fall of rain, and, thereby, kill all the seed in the vicinity of each 
lump, though it be no larger than a hickory-nut. If the lime can be 
spread, harrowed in, and the seeding postponed until after a good rain 
has fallen, all small lumps will then have become slaked, and the 
lime more thoroughly incorporated with the soil by the additional 

1 See Annual Reports for 1896 and 1897. 



AS A FERTILIZER. 6;^ 

cultivation. Caustic lime increases in weight about 27.5 per cent, by 
dry-slaking with a small quantity of water. When eight barrels of 
caustic lime, 250 pounds net each, are used per acre, the dressing is 
equivalent to one and a quarter tons of air-slaked lime. 

If phosphoric acid in some insoluble form, as fine ground bone, 
slag meal, or floats is used in the fertilizer, it is doubtless best to make 
a liberal application at time of seeding, and to confine the subsequent 
top-dressing mainly to applications of potash and nitrate of soda ; but 
if soluble phosphates are used, as dissolved bone-black, dissolved bone, 
or dissolved phosphate rock, a lighter application should be made at 
seeding-time, especially if done in the autumn, and then phosphoric 
acid should be regularly included in the spring top-dressing. If seed- 
ing is done in the early fall, and the soil has been tolerably well fertil- 
ized for previous crops, so as to be in good condition, either of the 
following formulas may be used : 

Fall Seeding No. i. 

Nitrate of Soda 50 to 100 pounds per acre. 

Muriate of Potash 5° to 100 " " 

Fine ground Bone 400 to 600 " " 

Slag meal (Thomas slag) 600 to 800 pounds, or floats (raw phos- 
phate rock finely ground) 800 to 1000 pounds may be used in place of 
the fine ground bone with about equally good effect. Each spring, 
following the seeding, just after the grass begins to start into growth, 
the following top-dressing should be applied : 

Nitrate of Soda 130 pounds per acre. 

Muriate of Potash 100 " '' 

If the field is kept in grass more than three years, about 300 
pounds of dissolved bone-black, or its equivalent in dissolved phos- 
phate rock or dissolved bone, should be regularly added to the spring 
top-dressing. The above formula can be equally well used for spring 
seeding, although in the latter case the nitrate of soda and muriate of 
potash should be increased by the amount used in the spring top- 
dressing. 

If soluble phosphates are used, and the seeding is done in the 
early fall, the following formula will do good service : 
Fall Seeding No. 2. 

Nitrate of Soda 5° to 100 pounds per acre. 

Muriate of Potash 50 to 100 " " 

Dissolved Bone-Black 150 to 250 " " 



^4 NITRATE OF SODA 

From 200 to 300 pounds of dissolved phosphate rock may be sub- 
stituted for the bone-black if found to cost less. If the above formula 
is used, the following top-dressing should be applied each spring when 
the growth of grass begins : 

Nitrate of Soda 120 pounds per acre. 

Muriate of Potash 1 20 " " 

Dissolved Bone- Black or Phosphate 

Rock 300 

Formula No. 2 may be used for spring seeding by adding to it the 
top-dressing intended for spring application. 

WINTER WHEAT. 

If the soil is acid, lime should be applied as for seeding to grass, 
and 

Fine Ground Bone 300 to 400 pounds per acre, 

or Dissolved Phosphate Rock ..200 to 300 " " 

used at time of seeding. In the spring, top-dress with 120 pounds of 
nitrate of soda per acre. If the soil is known to be deficient in potash, 
120 pounds of muriate of potash should be applied at time of sowing. 

WINTER RYE. 

The same fertilizer may be used for rye as for wheat, except 
that rye is less dependent upon the lime than is wheat. Rye can with- 
stand the unfavorable conditions of an acid soil fairly well, and will 
generally produce a crop, especially if top-dressed in early spring with 
120 pounds of nitrate of soda per acre. 

OATS. 

The following formula has been used for the oat crop, in connec- 
tion with the "rotations," at the Rhode Island Experiment Station : 

Nitrate of Soda 200 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 176 " " 

Fine Ground Bone 180 " " 

Muriate of Potash 120 " " 

The above should give a good crop upon soil of moderate quality. 
BARLEY AND BEETS. 

The following formula has been used upon acid soils, in connec- 
tion with work performed by the Rhode Island Experiment Station in 



AS A FERTILIZER. 65 

different parts of the State. In each case the soil received, in addition, 
a dressing of two and a lialf tons of air-shiked lime per acre 

Nitrate of Soda 300 pounds per acre. 

Muriate of Potash 300 " " 

Dissolved Bone-Black 900 " " 

The equivalent of the bone-black in dissolved phosphate rock 
might frequently be more economical. 

MANGELS AFTER CLOVER. 

This land was limed at the rate of two and a half tons per acre, 
previous to seeding to clover. Lime should always be used upon acid 
soils before attempting to grow beets of any variety. 

Nitrate of Soda 360 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 840 " " 

Muriate of Potash 300 " " 

PEAS. 

The following formula has produced good crops of peas in one of 
the rotations at the Rhode Island Experiment Station : 

Nitrate of Soda 120 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 397 " " 

Muriate of Potash 135 " " 

GARDEN CROPS AND VINES. 

Nitrate of Soda 450 pounds per acre. 

Fine Ground Bone 500 " " 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 500 " " 

Muriate of Potash .... 300 " " 

When successive crops are grown upon the same land in one sea- 
son, additional applications of fertilizer will be required. Top-dress- 
ing all crops valued for the leaf growth, as cabbage, celery, lettuce, 
etc., with nitrate of soda will greatly increase the growth. 

TURNIPS. 

Nitrate of Soda 120 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 331 " " 

Fine Ground Bone 240 " '' 

Muriate of Potash 150 " " 



66 NITRATE OF SODA 

ASPARAGUS. 

This plant fails, or produces but a feeble growth, upon an acid 
soil without lime. Two tons, or more, per acre of air-slaked lime can 
be safely applied if a soil shows much acidity. 

Nitrate of Soda 450 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 500 " 

Fine Ground Bone 400 " " 

Muriate of Potash 300 " " 

If the soil is deficient in potash, the quantity used in the formula 
should be considerably increased. One half of this fertilizer may be 
applied and worked into the soil in the early spring, and the remain- 
der, just before cutting ceases, and the permanent summer growth 
begins. A vigorous growth of top through the summer and fall is 
desirable, as the roots are then prepared to send up an abiuidant crop 
of shoots the following spring. 

INDIAN CORN, No. i. 

Nitrate of Soda 225 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 420 " " 

Fine Ground Bone 150 " " 

Muriate of Potash 120 " " 

INDIAN CORN, No. 2. 

Muriate of Potash iSo pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 550 " " 

Nitrate of Soda 250 " " 

IRISH POTATOES. 

The fertilizer used in growing potatoes upon plot 38, in a fertil- 
izer experiment with potatoes at the Rhode Island Experiment Sta- 
tion, was composed of the following : 

Nitrate of Soda 344 pounds per acre. 

Dissolved Phosphate Rock 875 " '■ 

Muriate of Potash 215 " " 

On many soils, high grade sulfate of potash in place of the muri- 
ate would probably give an equally good crop, and the quality of the 
tubers might be better. Lime should not be used with, or just preceding, 
the potato crop, for, although it has a tendency to slightly increase 



AS A FERTILIZER. 67 

the crop, and especially the propoi-tion of marketable tubers, the neu- 
tral or alkaline condition of the soil, which it creates, is highly favor- 
able to the development of the "scab" fungus, and a "scabby" crop 
is likely to follow its use. If the '"scab " germ is not present in the soil, 
and the seed tubers are so t/ioroiig/iJy disinfected that it is not introduced 
upon them, then potatoes may be safely grown upon freshly-limed 
land. 

The formulas given above are not intended as " hard and fast 
rules" under all circumstances, but as suggestions which the prudent 
cultivator may safely adapt to his individual circumstances. 

Nitrate of soda usually furnishes from 15 to 16 per cent, of nitro- 
gen, i. e., 15 to 16 pounds in every 100 pounds of material. Muriate 
of potash yields about 50 per cent, of actual potash. The phosphatic 
materials are much more variable in composition, but dissolved bone- 
black contains, generally, from 15 to 16 per cent, of available phos- 
phoric acid ; dissolved phosphate rock about 13 per cent., although 
different lots may vary from 11 to 17 per cent., of available phosphoric 
acid. Fine ground bone has about 2 per cent, of nitrogen and some 
20 to 27 per cent of total phosphoric acid ; slag meal, about 18 per 
cent, of total phosphoric acid, and floats, about 26 per cent. In pre- 
paring the foregoing formulas, the relative cost and efficiency of the 
phosphatic materials, as well as the actual content of phosphoric acid, 
has been considered. 




For full information in regard to Nitrate of 
Soda as a Fertilizer apply to address below. All 
publications furnished free. 

PROPAGANDA FOR NITRATE OF SODA, 

12 JOHN STREET, 

NEW YORK CITY. 



INDEX. 

PAGE 

Composition of Nitrate 67 

Cost of Fertilizers (table showing) g 

Cost of Fertilizer per acre 6, 7 

Cost of Nitrogen per acre 7 

Cost of Sulphate of Ammonia per acre 7 

Cost of Dried Blood per acre 7 

Experiment Farm 9 

Experiment Abbott's Run 13 

Experiment Hope Valley (Corn) ' 16 

Experiment Summary, Kingston (Com) 12 

Experiments, Westerly, R. I. , (Corn) 22 

Experiments with Barley 57 

Experiments, Noose Neck (Corn) 24 

Experiments, Kingston (Corn) 9 

Experiments, Jamestown (Corn) 27 

Experiments with Variety Crops 31 

Experiments with Ci'ass 43 

Experiments wdth Nurseiy Stock 47 

Experiments with Potatoes 51, 53 

Field Trials 9 

Formula Asparagus 66 

Formula Barley and Beets 64 

Formula for Experimental Plats 6, 7, 8 

Formula for Grass, Fall Seeding 63 

Formula for Garden Crops and Vines : 65 

Formula for Indian Corn 66 

Formula for Irish Potatoes 66 

Formula for Mangels after Clover 65 

Formula for Oats 64 

Formula for Peas 65 

Formula for Turnips 65 

Formula for Winter Rye 64 

Formula for Winter Wheat 64 

Full Ration Nitrate of Soda 6, 7, 8 

Full Ration Sulphate of Ammonia 7, 8 

Full Ration Dried Blood 7, S 

Hope Valley Experiment (Corn ) 16 

Mixed Minerals, Composition of 6 

Mixed Minerals, Cost of 6 

Notes and Conclusions, Experiment Station Farm 11 

Notes and Conclusions, Hope Valley 18 



PAGE 

Notes and Conclusions, Westerly (Corn) 22 

Plans of Experiments 5 

Purpose of Experiments 5 

Pot Experiments 53 

Ration per Acre 6 

Summary Kingston Experiment (Com) 12 

Summary" of Total Yields in Four Years (Com) 21 

Summary Corn, Abbott's Run 15 

Seeding to Grass 62 

Suggestions Regarding Use of Nitrate of Soda and Lime 61 

Summary, Westerly Experiments (Com) 24 

Table Showing Results, Hope Valley (Corn) 17 

Table Showing Yield of Corn on Station Farm 10 

LIST OK CUTS. 



PAGE 

Alfalfa 40 

Barley 60 

Blue Lupine 46 

Cabbage 33 

Cantaloupe 31 

Celery 37 

Cow Pea 31 

Dandelion 39 

Early Cabbage 42 

Field Com 11 

B'ield Corn (Maize) 20 

German Millet 40 

Kohl-Rabi 41 

Lettuce 35 

Mangel Wurzel 33 

Oats .... 55 

Potatoes 52 

Spring Rye 54 

Sunflower 48 

Sorghum 37 

Sugar Beets 36 

Soja Bean 32 

Sweet Vernal Grass 47 

Sweet Corn (Maize) 44 

Table Beets 36 

Timothy 44 

Watermelons 42 

Yellow Carrot (Danvers) 50 

Yellow Onions 41 



